A Whirlwind Trip to Vancouver

Well, because a month at the cottage wasn't enough, Sophia and I headed out to Vancouver just four short days after returning home from the 'Peg. Our main purpose of the trip was to fulfill Uncle Todd's birthday wish of having Sophia come for a visit. So we did. Sophia and I arrived on Todd's birthday, to a sweltering day on the Coast and a roasting turkey in the oven. Now I know why Christmas happens in December. Yikes!!

The flights out to Vancouver were momentous in the fact that for the first time Sophia had her own seat. Yup, we paid for it! So in my brilliance I decided that if the darned seat was paid for, she was going to use it!! That meant I lugged her car seat onto each plane so that she could ride in comfort. It was a great thing for Sophia, for she could sit on her own, watch out the window, nap, and see the TV all without the annoyance of being held in a vise grip on Mama's lap. And I got to enjoy a flight without a squirming toddler. The only downfall??? Lugging the stupid friggin' carseat through the airports. I wasn't allowed to leave it at the gate unattended. I couldn't send it down to the gate before me, I couldn't take a cart down through security, and everytime I brought it to the gate I was asked if Sophia was actually 2 years old. Well, no Sh*&, she's two. The only reason I have the seat is so that she can sit on her own. And Yes! We paid for it. I have to say that the attendants on the plane were mostly helpful, it was the gate attendants, especially in Vancouver and Edmonton on the way home, who were challenging! And just for a moment, hold this image in your head....An seven month pregnant woman carting a carry-on bag, a huge cart seat and a 25 pound toddler who insisted on being carried, rushing from Gate 16 to Gate 60 in twenty minutes. No there weren't any attendants able to help, and no I couldn't get a ride on their little people mover thingy. OOOOOOOH, I was unhappy to say the least. I did get a work out though.

Enough of that. We got to Vancouver, ate a fab turkey dinner, and opened gifts with Uncle Todd.
Sophia HAD to help unwrap! She had already opened her birthday gifts from Uncle Todd and Auntie Dea, so she was revving to go!

Among the things we did: checked out the brand new Costco (yes, I need to get a life), visited a Blueberry farm (and Sophia ate her fill!); went to Maplewood Farm (where all sorts of animals were watched, petted and sometimes chased), a trip to the local park with Nana, a family weekend in the States with Nana, Papa, Uncle Todd, and Auntie Dea (this included lots of shopping at the Seattle Premium Outlet stores (Yahoo!!! You should see the haul), swimming, a baby shower for the forthcoming Baby Boy, High Tea for Mama with her friends, a girl's dinner (sans toddlers) for Tanya and Mama, a playdate with Sheliza and the first meetings of the Mantel and Godfrey families (that's Dea's family) plus swimming in the pool! I might have missed something...it was a very busy week, and just not long enough to see everyone! I think she had a great time, though! I know I did!

It will be a few months until we get out to Vancouver next...most likely the baby and I will go in November so he can meet all the folks out there! Thanks so much for a great time!

Sheliza and Sophia playing together so very well! They drew beautiful pictures together! And there was no fighting!

Turns were taken pushing and pulling each other on this retro wagon!

A little Sophia-turkey time. "So I hope it wasn't one of your relatives we ate last night..."

Sophia giggled and giggled as this friendly chicken happily pecked grain out of Sophia's hands. Mama has to admit she was a bit nervous as she stuck her hand out the first time...but she wanted to make sure the feathered creature was gentle before her kid lost any fingers!

"Goat sleeping! Goat sleeping! Goat eyes closed!"

A little bunny time. They loved the parsley Sophia fed them!